Keir Starmer, the leader of the UK's opposition Labour Party, has appointed a new second permanent secretary at the Cabinet Office to oversee a "reset" in relations with the European Union. The appointee will be responsible for negotiating closer ties on issues such as trade and security between the UK and EU.
https://www.politico.eu/article/keir-starmer-appoints-former-new-labour-spin-doctor-as-eu-negotiator/Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced plans for a strategic partnership agreement with Iran last October, with a target completion date set by the end of January. This deal follows a similar agreement signed between Russian President Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June, which includes mutual military support in case of an attack.
https://www.politico.eu/article/russia-and-iran-to-sign-partnership-treaty-on-january-17/The reconstruction and compensation efforts in Lebanon following the war between Israel and Hezbollah are slow in coming. The World Bank estimated that losses to Lebanon's infrastructure amount to $3.4 billion. Many residents of villages along the Lebanon-Israel border, where Israeli soldiers remain stationed, cannot return home as they are still occupied by Israeli forces. Under the ceasefire deal, Israeli forces are supposed to withdraw by January 26, but there is uncertainty about whether this will happen. The Lebanese Army is expected to step in and dismantle Hezbollah's combat positions after their withdrawal, but Israeli officials have complained that the troops are not moving quickly enough. Meanwhile, reconstruction prospects remain unclear as Hezbollah, which financed much of the $2.8 billion reconstruction efforts in 2006 with Iranian support, has suffered significant losses this time around and is facing an economic crisis. The Lebanese government is also cash-strapped and unable to provide assistance, leaving many residents waiting for promised compensation from Hezbollah.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/uncertainty-clouds-reconstruction-in-lebanon-following-ceasefire-with-israel/article69094405.eceNew Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon reaffirmed a "foreign policy reset" in Sydney, which involves pursuing closer defense cooperation with Australia. This move is seen as highly symbolic, particularly given New Zealand's decision to provide intelligence support for future U.S. and U.K. airstrikes on Yemen. Meanwhile, tensions in the Middle East are escalating, prompting questions about New Zealand's response. The country has also signed a trade deal with the UAE, which could be the start of something bigger, marking one of Wellington's fastest trade negotiations ever.
https://thediplomat.com/2025/01/christopher-luxons-important-trip-to-the-uae/French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed concerns over Iran's accelerated nuclear programme, stating it brings them "very close to the breaking point". The E3 countries - France, Britain and Germany - have accused Tehran of growing its stockpile of high-enriched uranium without a credible civilian justification. Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes and has expressed willingness to revive the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) deal, which imposed curbs on its nuclear activities in return for sanctions relief. The deal's snapback mechanism, which allows signatories to reimpose UN sanctions if commitments are not met, expires in October this year, adding urgency to diplomatic efforts.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40342472/iran-european-powers-to-hold-nuclear-talks-ahead-of-trump-returnIran has ruled out engaging in indirect talks with the United States, citing a lack of grounds for such discussions. This decision comes after French President Emmanuel Macron expressed concern over the acceleration of Iran's nuclear programme, stating it is "bringing us very close to the breaking point".
https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/iran-to-hold-nuclear-talks-with-france-uk-germany-ahead-of-trump-return-18253145The Malaysian Ministry of International Trade and Industry has imposed provisional anti-dumping duties on certain products imported from China, India, Japan, and South Korea. The investigation was initiated by a domestic producer who alleged that these imports were being sold at below-market prices in Malaysia, causing material injury to the local industry. The ministry will make a final determination by May 10, with a deadline for public feedback set for January 20.
https://www.voanews.com/a/malaysia-imposes-anti-dumping-duties-on-iron-steel-imports-from-4-countries/7934555.htmlPhilippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., US President Joe Biden, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (not Ishiba Shigeru) held a virtual meeting to strengthen ties between their countries in areas such as the economy, maritime cooperation, and technology.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/01/14/news/national/marcos-biden-ishiba-vow-to-boost-ties/2037426Canadian Foreign Minister Mary Ng visited Washington D.C. in an effort to address growing concerns among Canadians about US President Donald Trump's comments suggesting that Canada could become a state. This comes after Smith, likely referring to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's representative, stated that Trump's proposal was gaining traction with Americans but not with Canadians. The visit aims to preserve the trade partnership between the two countries, which has been threatened by Trump's threat to impose 25 percent tariffs on imports from Canada.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14278967/trump-canadians-kevin-oleary-danielle-smith.html